After four seasons as UCLA’s offensive coordinator, Noel Mazzone is reportedly heading back to the SEC to take the same position at Texas A&M.
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The Aggies would show flashes of brilliance in Spavital’s two seasons as offensive coordinator, but underwhelmed in big spots. The Bruins averaged 32 points per game and 6.25 yards per play in 2015, ranking seventh and fifth in the Pac-12.
Known as an innovator and a quarterback mentor, Mazzone coached Brett Hundley and Josh Rosen at UCLA. On the surface, it’s rather puzzling: While Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies have run a freelancing, adaptable spread system over the past few years under the direction of OC Jake Spavital, Mazzone’s Bruins offenses have been rigid, predictable, conservative and mostly run out of NFL-like formations.
Before arriving at UCLA, Mazzone was Arizona State’s offensive coordinator under Dennis Erickson and held the same position in previous stops at MS (twice), North Carolina State, Auburn and Oregon State.
Another option would be to try to entice Marques Tuiasosopo to leave USC.
There are also strong indications that UCLA quarterbacks coach Taylor Mazzone, his son, will accompany him to College Station and become the Aggies’ quarterbacks coach.
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UCLA football won’t have to wait long to be reunited with the Mazzones – the Bruins’ schedule opens at Texas A&M in September.
